What’s Happening
A new bill in Nevada wants to add more places to drop off mail-in ballots during the gap between early voting and Election Day. Assembly Bill 306 would force larger counties to set up ballot drop boxes that would be open for at least seven hours each day during this period.
Why Conservatives Should Care
This bill is a big deal for anyone who believes in limited government and local control. Here’s why:
First, it forces an unfunded mandate on counties. The bill itself admits it “contains unfunded mandate” that was “not requested by affected local government.” This means the state is ordering counties to spend money they didn’t ask to spend.
Second, it takes away local choice. The bill requires Clark County to set up 10 drop box locations and Washoe County to set up 5 locations. Only smaller counties get to decide for themselves how many boxes to have.
Third, there are serious concerns about ballot security. Unlike drop boxes at polling places that have staff watching them, these new boxes would be set up during a time when regular polling places are closed.
What Critics Are Saying
Nevada Families for Freedom, a conservative group, warns the bill “increases the opportunity for election fraud.” They point out that without poll workers present, there’s greater risk of “stuffing the ballot box with mail-in ballots.”
The group also notes that since ballots can be delivered by someone other than the voter, the bill “increases the opportunity for ballot harvesting” – when third parties collect and return ballots.
Breaking News: Mail Boxes Already Exist!
Here’s a shocking revelation that seems to have escaped the bill’s sponsors: there’s already a special box designed specifically for sending mail. It’s called a mailbox! They’re all over Nevada. They’re blue. They’re run by the Postal Service. And taxpayers are already funding them!
Even better, most Nevadans already have a personal mailbox right at their residence where they can put outgoing mail. You know, the same box where they received their mail ballot in the first place!
But apparently, we need to spend more county money to create special boxes just for ballots, because… reasons? The bill’s supporters seem to think voters can’t figure out how to use the postal system that’s been around for over 200 years or the mailbox that’s literally feet from their front door.
As the bill’s text confirms, ballots can be “mailed to the county clerk, and postmarked on or before the day of the election.” So why exactly do we need these extra drop boxes during a three-day window when the regular mail system works just fine?
The Facts
Under current Nevada law, ballot drop boxes are already required at all polling places during early voting and on Election Day. This bill would extend drop box availability to the gap between early voting (which ends the Friday before the election) and Election Day.
The bill would require:
- 10 drop box locations in Clark County (Las Vegas area)
- 5 drop box locations in Washoe County (Reno area)
- Any number of locations in smaller counties
Nevada’s Changing Ballot Laws
Nevada’s election procedures have changed significantly since 2020. During the pandemic, AB4 was passed in a special session, making Nevada a universal mail-in ballot state. This meant every active registered voter automatically receives a mail ballot.
The current bill expands on these changes by specifically addressing Section 3 of the legislation, which authorizes “a person, under certain circumstances, to return a mail ballot on behalf of a voter by returning the mail ballot to a mail ballot drop box established pursuant to section 1.”
As the bill states:
“For the period beginning on the day after the last day for early voting by personal appearance and ending on the day before the day of the general election, each county clerk… shall establish at least 10 locations where a voter may return his or her mail ballot in a mail ballot drop box which must remain open to the public for at least 7 hours each day.”
What This Means For You
If you believe in letting local communities make their own decisions, this bill goes against that principle by forcing a one-size-fits-all approach on Nevada’s largest counties.
The bill also creates new costs for counties without providing funding to cover them. As taxpayers, that money ultimately comes from your pocket.
What You Can Do
If you’re concerned about this bill, you can:
- Attend the hearing on Thursday, March 13 at 4:00pm in Carson City or Las Vegas
- Call (888) 475-4499 and use Meeting ID 830 5632 5537 to provide public comment
- Submit your opinion online at the Nevada Legislature website
- Email committee members to share your concerns
The Bottom Line
At its heart, this is about whether you think the state should force counties to spend money on new ballot drop boxes or whether counties should decide for themselves what works best for their communities. For conservatives who believe in limited government, local control, and election integrity, AB306 raises serious concerns.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
